This letterbook covers the periods October 1882 and March-May 1883. Most of the correspondence is by Edison. There is also correspondence by Samuel Insull. Most of Edison's letters are in the hand of Insull, acting as Edison's secretary. The correspondence relates primarily to electric lighting in the United States and in Europe. There are also miscellaneous letters and other documents pertaining to such subjects as Edison's experiments for preserving fruit in a vacuum, ore separation, stock reporting telegraphs, and telephones. Among the recipients are Armington & Sims, Charles Batchelor, William H. Douty, the Edison Electric Light Co., the Edison Electric Light Co., Ltd., Edward H. Johnson, W. D. Rich, and the Société Electrique Edison. The front cover is marked "1882-1883." The spine is labeled "1882-1883" and is stamped "Edison's Letters No.5." The book contains 501 numbered pages and an index. Approximately 50 percent of the book has been selected.